Writings of Gregory the Great. Epistles of Saint Gregory

Selected Epistles, of

Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome

Translated, with Introduction, Notes, and Indices, by the
Rev. James Barmby, D.D.,
Vicar of Northallerton, Yorkshire

Published in 1886 by Philip Schaff,
New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co.

Register of the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great.

Book XII.

Epistle I.

To Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage.

Gregory to Dominicus, &c.

How abundant is the charity of your heart you shew by its
interpreter--your tongue, while so seasoning the words of your
epistles with its sweetness that all you write is pleasant and
delightful. Hence it comes that we embrace your Fraternity in the
arms of love, though unable to do so in the body. For it is the
office of charity to supply to souls that are in concord what distance
of place denies. And since the sickness of our most loving brethren
saddens us even as their health refreshes us, we give thanks to
Almighty God, who has solaced our sadness by good news. For, having
heard that you had contracted a very severe illness, before the
receipt of your letter we were in a state of great distress. But
since, when we are snatched from peril of death, it is uncertain,
dearest brother, for what we are reserved, let us turn the time of
respite to the profit of our souls, and, having to render our accounts
to the coming Judge, let us fortify our cause before Him with tears
and good works, that we may be counted worthy to have security given
us with regard to the things that we have done. For in secular causes
also a kind judge frequently grants a respite to this end, that one
who had not been prepared before may afterwards come to his trial
prepared. And what a thing it would be, were we to neglect for the
salvation of the soul what we carefully attend to in matters of
earthly concern! And so, since, according to the words of the Apostle
John, no one is without sin, let us call to mind enticements of
thought, incontinence of tongue, deeds of transgression; and let us,
while we may, with great knocking, do away with the stains of our
iniquities, that our just and loving Redeemer may not execute
vengeance according to our deservings, but according to His mercy be
bent to pardon. And, since we do not sufficiently fulfil our office
by weeping for our own sins only, let us the more earnestly devote
ourselves to the custody of the flock committed to us, and by
persuading, by exhorting, by alarming, by preaching, so far as
heavenly clemency gives us power, let us hasten to fulfil our office
in very deed, that, through the bounty of our Creator, we may look for
the longed for reward. But, since we cannot do anything that is good
without divine aid, let us implore Almighty God, most beloved brother,
with united prayers, that He would direct us, with the flock committed
to us, into the way of His commandments by the leading of His grace,
and Himself, who by the gift of His mercy has willed us to have the
name of shepherds, grant to us to understand and do what is well
pleasing to Him. Moreover, we have received with the charity
wherewith you sent it the blessing of the blessed martyr Agileus,
transmitted to us by your Holiness. In the month of September,
Indiction 5.

Epistle VIII.

To Columbus, Bishop of Numidia [191] .

Gregory to Columbus, &c.

How serious, and intolerable even to be heard of, is the complaint of
Donadeus, the bearer of these presents, who describes himself as
having been a deacon, will be made manifest to your Fraternity by the
petition presented by him, which is contained in what is subjoined
below. But, since it has come to our ears that he had been deposed
for bodily sin, let your Love make full enquiry into this, and, if it
is so, let him be consigned to penance, that he may free himself by
tears from the bond of the profligacy of which he has been guilty.
If, however, he should be proved innocent of any such transgression,
all that his petition contains must be enquired into with diligent
examination by you, together with the primate of the council, and
others our brethren and fellow-bishops. And, if his complaint is
supported by the truth, let both such strictness of canonical
discipline be brought to bear on his bishop Victor [192] , who has not
lighted to commit so great a wickedness against God and his own
priestly profession, that he may understand the wickedness of what he
has done; and let the man himself be restored to his order: for it is
indeed preposterous, and confessedly against ecclesiastical order,
that any one whom his own fault or crime does not depose from the rank
of the office which he fills should be deprived invalidly at the will
of this or that person.

Footnotes

Epistle XXIV.

To John, Subdeacon of Ravenna [193] .

Gregory to John, &c.

Some monks who came to me from the monastery of the late abbot
Claudius have petitioned me that the monk Constantius should be
constituted their abbot. But I was exceedingly set against them as
touching their petition, because they appeared to me to be altogether
of a worldly mind in seeking to have a very worldly man for their
abbot. For I have learnt how this same Constantius studies to possess
property of his own: and this is the strongest evidence that he has
not the heart of a monk. And I have learnt further that he presumed
to go alone, without any one of his brethren with him, to a monastery
that is situate in the province of Picenum. From this proceeding of
his we know that he who walks without a witness lives not aright: and
how can he maintain the rule for others who knows not how to maintain
it for himself?

Giving him up, therefore, they asked to have a certain cellarer,
Maurus by name, to whose life and industry there are many testimonies,
the late abbot Claudius also with certain others having spoken in his
praise. Let thy Experience therefore make careful enquiry; and, if
his life should be such as fit him for a place of government, cause
him to be ordained abbot by our brother and fellow-bishop Marinianus.
But, if there is anything decidedly against him, and they cannot find
any suitable person in their own congregation, let them choose some
one from elsewhere, and let him whom they may choose be made abbot.
Further, take care by all means to tell our aforesaid brother and
fellow-bishop to put down with the utmost earnestness the possession
of property of their own by four or five of the monks of the
monastery, which it has been found so far impossible to correct, and
to make haste to cleanse this same monastery from such a pest; since,
if private property is held there by monks, it will not be possible
for either concord or charity to continue in this same congregation.
What, indeed, is a monk's state of life but a despising of the world?
How, then, do they despise the world who while placed in a monastery
seek gold? Wherefore let thy Experience so proceed that neither the
ordering of the place be deferred, nor any complaint reach us any more
on this subject.

Furthermore, forasmuch as my late most dear son Claudius had heard me
speak something about the Proverbs, the Song of Songs, the Prophets,
and also about the Books of Kings and the Heptateuch, which on account
of my infirmity I was unable to commit to writing, and he himself had
dictated them for transcription according to his own understanding of
their meaning, lest they should be forgotten, and in order that he
might bring them to me at a suitable time, so that they might be more
correctly dictated (for, when he read to me what he had written, I
found the sense of what I had said had been altered very
disadvantageously), it is hence necessary that thy Experience,
avoiding all excuse or delay, should go to his monastery, and assemble
the brethren, and that they should produce fully and truly whatsoever
papers on divers Scriptures he had brought thither; which do thou
take, and transmit them to me with all possible speed.

Further, about thy return, having learnt that thou hast incurred
serious trouble, we will consider by and by. Further, I have not been
pleased to hear what has been told me by certain persons; namely that
our most reverend brother and fellow-bishop Marinianus causes my
comments on the blessed Job to be read publicly at vigils; seeing that
this is not a popular work, and engenders hindrance rather than
advancement to rude hearers. But tell him to cause the comments on
the Psalms to be read at vigils, which mould the minds of secular
persons to good manners. For indeed I do not wish, while I am in this
flesh, that what I may have said should be readily made known to men.
For I took it amiss that Anatolius the deacon of most beloved memory
gave to the lord Emperor, at his request and command, the book of
Pastoral Rule, which my most holy brother and fellow-bishop Anastasius
of Antioch translated into the Greek tongue. And, as I was informed
by letter, it pleased him much; but it much displeased me that those
who have what is better should be occupied in what is least.

Further, in the third part of the blessed Job, in the verse wherein it
is written, I know that my Redeemer liveth, I suspect that my
aforesaid brother and fellow-bishop Marinianus has a corrupt copy.
For in the copy in our bookcase this passage is given differently from
what I find to be in the copies possessed by others; and consequently
I have had this passage corrected, so that our often-named brother may
have it as it is in our bookcase. For there are four words, the
absence of which from the passage may cause the reader no little
difficulty. Execute all these things thoroughly and speedily. And,
if thou canst do nothing with the most excellent Exarch, shew thyself
not to have neglected to do what is in thy power.

What shall I say concerning the place of Albinus, as to which the
answer given us is plainly contrary to justice? Thou oughtest,
however, to consider the case attentively. Furthermore, a little time
ago we had enjoined thy Experience to treat with our most eminent son
the præfect to the end that the care of the conduits (formarum) should
be committed to Augustus the vicecount, in that he is in all respects
a diligent and energetic man [194] . And thou hast so far so put off
the business as not even to inform us of what thou hast done. And so,
even now, hasten thou with all earnestness to treat with the same our
most eminent son, that the conduits may be entirely committed to the
aforesaid most distinguished man, to the intent that he may to some
extent succeed in repairing them. For these conduits are so scorned
and neglected that, unless greater attention be given to them, within
a short time they will go utterly to ruin. As thou knowest, then, how
necessary this business is, and how advantageous to the general
community, thou must use thy best endeavours that it may be committed,
as we have said, to the aforesaid man for his careful attention.
Given in the month of January, Indiction 5.

Footnotes

[193] This subdeacon John appears to have been at this time the pope's
representative to Ravenna, the seat of the exarch of Italy.
[194] The reference is to the conduits or aqueducts for supplying
water to Rome, which it was the duty of the officer called
"præfectus," who appears to have been at this time resident at
Ravenna, to keep in order.

Epistle XXV.

To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem) [195] .

Gregory to Romanus, &c.

It is well known to thy Experience that Peter, whom we have made a
guardian (defensorem), is sprung from the estate belonging to our
Church which is called Vitelas. And so, since we ought to shew
kindness towards him in such a way that nevertheless the Church may
suffer no disadvantage, we command thee by this order to charge him
strictly not to presume, under any pretext or excuse, to marry his
children anywhere but in that estate to which they are bound by law
and their condition [196] . In this matter, too, it is necessary for
thy Experience to be very careful, and to threaten them, so that on no
occasion whatever they may go out of the property to which by their
birth they are subjected. For, if any one of them (as we do not
believe will be the case) should presume to depart from it, he may be
assured that our assent will never be given to any of them dwelling or
being married outside the estate on which they were born, but that
also their land should be superscribed [197] . And then know that you
will run no slight risk, if through your negligence any of them should
attempt to do any of the things which we forbid.

Footnotes

[195] Romanus had been appointed guardian (defensor) of the patrimony
in Sicily. See IX. 18.
[196] This was a case of a native of Sicily, who had been ascriptus
glebæ, having been appointed a Defensor Ecclesiæ. The purpose of the
epistle is to guard against his supposing that such appointment
exempted his children from the restrictions imposed by their birth.
[197] Sed et superscribi terram eorum. The meaning may be that
notices should be put on the land to which such defaulters were
attached, declaring that such and such persons belonged to it and were
bound to remain on it. Cf. V. 41, note 3, on the phrase titulos
imponere.

Epistle XXVIII.

To Columbus, Bishop of Numidia [198] .

Gregory to Columbus, &c.

Inasmuch as it has long been known to us how thy Fraternity is
distinguished for priestly gravity and ecclesiastical zeal, we have
seen sufficient reason for thy taking part in the cognizance of things
that require rebuke, lest, if they should be put off through
connivance, every one should suppose that what he is able to do is
allowed him. Now after what manner our brother Paulinus, bishop of
the city of Tegessis is alleged by his clerics and by those who are
constituted in sacred orders, to have been excessive towards them in
corporal correction, thou needest not to be told, seeing that, before
this complaint reached us, the matter, as we have learnt from their
statement, had already been made known to thee. And, since superiors
ought not to have the right of punishing their subordinates savagely,
we have taken care to write to Victor our brother and fellow-bishop,
who holds the primacy among you [199] , that, together with thy
Fraternity, or with others our brethren and fellow bishops whom you
may think fit to call in, he may take cognizance of and thoroughly
investigate the case between our aforesaid brother priest and his
clergy. And let thy Love so give the matter thy close and careful
attention, that the things that have been reported to us may not pass
without a hearing, lest discord should be fomented in the Church,
whence it ought by all means to be banished. And, if indeed the
complaint of his clergy against him is well founded, so take
cognizance of his fault, which he has scorned of his own accord to
correct, with the force of our ecclesiastical decision that he may
both feel for the present what a grave offence he has committed, and
may learn for the future that he cannot do more than it is lawful for
him to do. Above all things, then, we exhort thee that thou study
ardently to exercise the zeal which we know thee to have for the sake
of God.

And, inasmuch as our said brother Paulinus is said to confer
ecclesiastical orders through simoniacal heresy, which is a thing
awful to hear of, let it be thy care, along with the aforesaid primate
or others, to enquire thoroughly into this also with all diligence.
And, if it should be found to be so (which God forbid), effort must be
made and action taken that both he who has not feared to accept and he
who has not feared to give a bribe may be smitten by a sentence of
canonical punishment, to the end that their correction may avail as a
reproof to many. And, before this deadly root acquires strength and
slays many more, let it be condemned by the decision of the whole
council, so that no one may ever dare to accept or to give anything
for any order whatever, nor any be promoted for favour, but all for
merit, lest both ecclesiastical order be confounded, and probity of
life be held in contempt, if one that is unworthy should receive the
reward of merit.

Further we have given orders to Hilarus our Chartularius that, if the
case should require it, he refuse not to take part in your enquiry.

If, therefore, it should be necessary, inform him by letter that you
wish him to come to you, to the end that by treating the matter
together with him you may better determine what ought to be ordained.
In the month of March, Indiction 5. [N.B. This date is absent from
several Codices.]

Footnotes

[198] See II. 48. note 1.
[199] For the custom in Africa with regard to the primacy, see I. 74,
note 9.

Epistle XXIX.

To Victor, Bishop [200] .

Gregory to Victor, &c.

While on the one hand it is a joy to us to learn that our brethren are
solicitous about their children in fatherly charity, on the other we
count it no less a matter for sadness when neither regard for other
brethren nor consideration of their priestly office avails to restrain
them from unlawful doings. How serious, then, and how harsh is the
complaint against our brother Paulinus, bishop of the city of
Tegessis, made by his clerics and by those who are in sacred orders, I
have no doubt is well known to thy Fraternity, since what has reached
us from a distance cannot have been hidden from thee who art near at
hand. And, since there is need of great caution lest this bodily
injury which they complain of at his hands in excess of his powers
should be ventured on with allowance, or should grow worse by being
connived at, manifest excesses should ever be so suppressed by
canonical control that one proceeding may serve as a reproof of what
is past and a rule for the future. Accordingly it becomes thee,
together with our most beloved common brother the bishop Columbus, and
with other priests whom you may think fit to call on, to sift the case
between our above-named brother and his clergy by means of a thorough
investigation. And, if the complaint of the petitioners stands with
truth, so correct ye this thing by a regular reformation, that he may
both be made aware what evil thing he has done and learn for the
future not to exceed the limits of his office. And suffer him not, as
is said to be the case, to disregard the rank of thy position, lest
his contempt be to his risk and to thy blame. For whatever is
committed by an inferior, unless it be carefully corrected, reflects
on the person who occupies the superior place.

That other matter also, namely that the same our brother Paulinus is
said to confer ecclesiastical orders for money, you should fully and
very strictly enquire into. And, if it should clearly appear to be
so, as we hope will not be the case, let your zeal for God so kindle
itself to avenge this wrong that both the avarice of the ordainer may
be turned into a penalty, and, the unlawful ordination being void of
effect, the person ordained may not enjoy the longed-for object of his
ambition. Herein we exhort you and before all things admonish you,
that your Fraternity study to be so solicitous that, before the
iniquity of simoniacal heresy shall gain strength in your parts from
the offence of one, it may be cut off from the root by the
pruning-hook of your sentence after a council diligently held. For
whosoever does not, in consideration of his office, burn vehemently to
correct this atrocity, let him not doubt that he will have his portion
with him from whom this peculiar enormity took its beginning. And so,
as we have said, you must act vigilantly and earnestly, that your
council, which up to this time, under God's keeping, has been
preserved from any bad repute of this kind, may not by any possibility
be polluted and ruined by the poison of this wickedness.

Furthermore, we have given orders to Hilarus our Chartularius, that,
if the case should require it, he defer not to join you. Wherefore,
should it be necessary, inform him by your letters of the need of his
coming to you, to the end that you, together with him, may be able,
God helping you, to determine all these things in a salutary way.

Footnotes

[200] At this time primate of Numidia. See preceding epistle.

Epistle XXXII.

To all the Bishops of the Council of Bizacium [201] .

Gregory to all, &c.

As it is laudable and discreet to shew due reverence and honour to
superiors, so it belongs to rectitude and the fear of God, if anything
in them needs correction, not to put it off by any connivance, lest
disease should begin to invade the whole body (which God forbid),
sickness not being cured in the head. Now a considerable time ago
certain things were reported to us about our brother Crementius, your
primate, such as to pierce our heart with no slight sorrow. But
through the pressure of divers tribulations, and especially from
enemies raging round us, we had not time to enquire into the matter.
And, since it is so serious that it ought by no means to be passed
over without investigation, we hereby exhort your Fraternity with all
carefulness and activity to search out in all ways the substantial
truth, in order that either if these things are so, they may be cut
off by canonical punishment, or, if they are false, the innocence of
our brother may not long lie under the laceration of an infamous
report. Wherefore, that there may be no torpor of idleness in the
enquiry, we admonish you that neither the interest nor the favour nor
the cajoleries of any person whatever, nor anything else, soften any
one of you in your sifting of what has been reported to us, or shake
you from the path of truth; but gird ye yourselves in priestly wise to
investigate the truth. For, if any one should presume to be sluggish,
or to shew himself negligent in this matter, let him know that he will
be a partaker in the said crimes before Almighty God, by zeal for whom
he is not moved to enquire fully into the causes of atrocious
wickedness.

Footnotes

[201] Cf. IX. 58, note 1 and IX. 59.

Epistle L.

To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria.

Gregory to Eulogius, &c.

The bearers of these presents, coming to Sicily, were converted from
the error of the Monophysites, and united themselves to the holy
universal Church. Having proceeded to the church of the blessed
Peter, Prince of the apostles, they requested of me that I should
commend them by letter to your Blessedness, to the end that they may
not now be allowed to suffer any wrong from the heretics that are near
them. And because one of them says that the monastery in which he was
had been founded by his kindred, he desires to receive authority from
your Holiness that the heretics who are in it may either return to the
bosom of holy Church or be expelled from the same monastery. Let it
be enough for us to have indicated this to you: for we know of your
Blessedness that whatever pertains to zeal for Almighty God you hasten
with all fervour to do. But for me I beg you to pray, since amid the
swords of the Lombards which I endure I am excessively afflicted by
pains of gout.